Windows 8 is quite different than previous Microsoft operating systems, but it’s still eminently hackable. With this book, you’ll learn how to make a variety of modifications, from speeding up boot time and disabling the Lock screen to hacking native apps and running Windows 8 on a Mac. And that’s just the beginning. You’ll find more than 100 standalone hacks on performance, multimedia, networking, the cloud, security, email, hardware, and more. Not only will you learn how to use each hack, you’ll also discover why it works.

Add folders and other objects to the Start screen

Run other Windows versions inside Windows 8

Juice up performance and track down bottlenecks

Use the SkyDrive cloud service to sync your files everywhere

Speed up web browsing and use other PCs on your home network

Secure portable storage and set up a virtual private network

Hack Windows 8 Mail and services such as Outlook

Combine storage from different devices into one big virtual disk

Take control of Window 8 setting with the Registry

Chapter 1 Setup and Startup Hacks

Disable Windows 8’s Lock Screen

Hack Your Way Through the Lock Screen

Speed Up Boot Time

Speed Up Startup by Halting Startup Programs and Services

Reset and Refresh Your PC Instead of Doing a Complete Reinstall

Installing and Running Windows 8 on a Mac

Use Hyper-V to Install and Run Other Operating Systems Inside Windows 8

Chapter 2 Hacking the Start Screen, the Windows 8 Interface, and Apps

Create an Application Folder for Quick Launches on the Start Screen and the Desktop

Preston Gralla

Preston Gralla is the author of more than 40 books that have been translated into 20 languages, including Galaxy S 5 The Missing Manual, Windows 8 Hacks, NOOK HD: The Missing Manual, Galaxy Tab: The Missing Manual, The Big Book of Windows Hacks, How the Internet Works, and How Wireless Works. He is a contributing editor to Computerworld, a blogger for ITWorld, and was a founding editor and then editorial director of PC/Computing, executive editor for CNet/ZDNet, and the founding managing editor of PC Week.He has written about technology for many national newspapers and magazines, including USA Today, Los Angeles Times, Dallas Morning News (for whom he wrote a technology column), PC World, and numerous others. As a widely recognized technology expert, he has made many television and radio appearances, including on the CBS Early Show, MSNBC, ABC World News Now, and National Public Radio. Under his editorship, PC/Computing was a finalist for General Excellence in the National Magazine Awards. He has also won the “Best Feature in a Computing Publication” award from the Computer Press Association.Gralla is also the recipient of a Fiction Fellowship from the Massachusetts Cultural Council. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts, with his wife (his two children have flown the coop). He welcomes feedback about his books by email at preston@gralla.com.

Preston Gralla is the author of more than 30 books (including Windows XP Hacks, Windows XP Cookbook and Big Book of Windows Hacks). He has written technology articles for many national newspapers and magazines.

The title of the book might be misleading. It's more about tweaking Windows and doesn't have to do anything with hacking (e. g. exploiting) Windows.

IMHO this book is a must have for windows8 (Power-) Users. It helps you to get along with all the new features and concepts of Windows 8.On the other hand it helps you to get some of the good old Windows 7 feeling back to Windows 8 (if you like).

Overall this Book contains 121 Hacks grouped in 11 Chapters of different categories and it is best used as a reference. Some of the Hacks are on a more intermediate level and some are more advanced so that this book is helpful for beginners and power users.

The Book is well organized and has a great Table of Content so that it is easy to find the information you a looking for.

Some Hacks have notes where the author gives further information for the Hack (e. g. you can edit the registry directly instead of using the group policy editor when you don't have the Windows Pro version).

For some hacks he doesn't mention that you need to enable "Show hidden files, folders, and drives" in the folder options (for some Hacks he does).

Sometimes the given Path for a Folder contains to many spaces or a slash is missing (e. g. C:\Program Data\ or C: ProgramData). This won't be a problem for advanced users but maybe a big problem for new users.

I have been a fan of Preston Gralla since I read "Windows XP Hacks" and this new book confirms his knowledge and ability to express himself with clarity and ease.As we are all new to Windows 8 this book will be useful to everyone. The contents range from the fairly mundane and obvious such as obtaining a start button from third parties to serious editing to the registry (please do so with caution!). This book covers a multitude of potential changes that can be made to Windows 8. I use the word changes rather than improvements as not all the suggestions will suit everyone and therefore you should pick and choose the choices offered here. I was particularly happy with the chapters on "productivity" (chapter 4) and "security" (chapter 8) both contain a wealth of useful information.This is a book I use as a reference rather than one I would read from cover to cover. Looking through the table of contents gives you an excellent overview and from there you can cherry-pick the items that interest you. For instance If you use or need information on g-mail for instance there are some very useful tips in the chapter on e-mail.My only complaint is the choice of title; "hack" is defined as either "to break into computers" or "an inelegant but effective solution to a computer problem". Although this book tends to be the latter I think most of the tips given are anything but inelegant!To summarize a very worthwhile and cost effective addition to your library when you venture into Windows 8.